Gary Dean, chairman of Poulton-based Elletson Publishing, created a website which details the seven-figure payout, agreed 12 months ago.

He says he wanted to make the deal public because he wants to put an end to 'Chinese whispers' about the size of the payout which painted him as 'greedy, tight and ruthless.'

As well as the £3.7m pay-off, his ex-wife Helen Dean will keep jewellery, diamonds and watches.

The settlement also includes two top of the range motors, a Mercedes E500 and an Audi Convertible 3.0, and two "cherished" personalised number plates.

Mr Dean, who lives in St Michael's, hopes making the details public will put an end to village gossip on the Fylde about the payout.

Writing on the site, he said: "If this website looks like the bleating of a wounded ex-hubby - then sorry - but it's certainly not meant to be.

"I am not complaining about what I agreed to pay. There has been so much interest and speculation with regards to our divorce settlement that I felt compelled to put the record straight.

"Now for all those of you out there who have wanted to gossip about what I did and did not have to pay - you need to speculate no more."

Full story in Friday's Gazette